‘McSpooky Town’ is an original cartoon exclusively for The Independent from cartoonist Clay Jones inspired by Don Gilman’s article ‘Hamburger eating contests at Spooky Town Fair raise concerns’
From the article:
Obesity is a serious problem in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, one-third of the children in the United States are overweight or obese. Children who are overweight are at higher risk for a myriad of health maladies, such as cardiovascular disease, higher risk for diabetes, and bone and joint issues. In addition to physical health issues, there are also mental health issues related to obesity, such as poor self-esteem and risk of bullying due to the stigmatization from their peers.
Despite the concerns about obesity, the Washington County School District Foundation has entered into a partnership with McDonald’s to sponsor hamburger eating contests at the Spooky Town Fair this weekend in downtown St. George. There are currently three hamburger eating contests: the first for children up to 12 years of age, the second for 13-17 year-olds, and the the final for adults.
According to the Washington County School District Foundation website, the purpose of the foundation is “to enhance the quality of education of the students of Washington County School District by providing the resources necessary through private funding that are not provided through the traditional sources.” Pam Graf, the director of the Washington County School District Foundation, said that the hamburger eating contests at Spooky Town Fair were only meant for fun.
“Why would we have a pie eating contest? Why would we have a watermelon eating contest?” Graf said. “It’s just something fun to do. I don’t see that there is anything wrong about it.”
When it was suggested that McDonald’s hamburgers were a less-than-healthy choice, Graf stated that a pie eating or ice cream eating contest would be just as unhealthy.
I think you’re kind of grasping here,” Graf told The Independent. “Because McDonald’s is a great sponsor for the school district and supports us, I don’t want to have anything go out there negative about them.”
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